A 2011 USA Today/Gallup Poll found that 92 percent of Americans believe in God. If any of that 92% are like me, I bet they wonder how they can actually please God in their careers and personal life. Is it possible to bring joy to the creator of the universe? As I go through life each day, is there anything that I can do that really helps me connect with the Almighty? I believe these types of questions have been asked for thousands of years and many of us are still searching for the answer.

The search for learning how to please God can lead you down many paths and provide you with many potential answers. Over the course of my life, I’ve learned that most of the answers the world provides and that I come up with are more pleasing to me then they are God. I’ll donate money once a year to some charitable cause, I’ll hold a door open for an old lady, I’ll help a client by lowering my commission, or I’ll tell someone,  ”Hey, I’m praying for you”. All good things, don’t get me wrong. But, also very temporary and inconsistent.

Imagine finding an answer that could stand the test of time, outlive any season of life, and provide everlasting security to whomever learns it. In a short, but powerful, story written almost 2700 years ago, the prophet Micah give us the simple and powerful answer to the question, “how can we please God?” In its simplicity we find a road map to joy and peace in our daily actions. In its power, we find the opportunity to not only please God but impact the world we live in for generations to come. Here is Micah’s answer:

ACT JUSTLY in everything you do. Be honest and fair to the people you serve, your family and friends, and in all your business dealings. Do not seek ways to take advantage of others, “pull one over” on someone, or use someone’s misfortune as your gain. If you make a promise keep it. If you give your word, keep your word.

LOVE MERCY and administer it liberally. Take care of those that are less fortunate than you. Help people that are going through difficult times by being generous with your time, money, and resources. Have compassion as a mother would for her newborn child that looks to her for its every need. Forgive those that have wronged you and be quick to extend grace to those that need it. Seek out ways in which to serve in your community and love your neighbor.

WALK HUMBLY no matter what level of success you’ve attained. Understand that there is a greater purpose in life than the growth and development of your ego. The gifts and talents you have been given are for service to others and the betterment of community. Follow the golden rule of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. Continually seek Truth, justice, and mercy and don’t take yourself so seriously. Lead by example, serve your followers, and develop the next generation of leaders in your home and business.

Three simple but difficult actions to live by. Make no mistake, the world will throw challenges, temptations, and opportunities your way that will distract you from these truths. If you find yourself off track, start over. Recommit to the three and surround yourself with others that want to please God. If 92% of us believe in Him, I bet there are few out there that want to impact the world and please Him too.

Question: As you look back over your life, how have you tried to please God?

Make it a great day!

Coach Dan

A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO PLEASING GOD is a post from: Coach Dan Foster

We all have those days when nothing seems to be going right and the world is literally against us. The words people use, their actions, and their body language tell us “you suck!” and are the cause of what I’m going through and pain I’m experiencing right now. Whether you are to blame or not, there are days when you will be treated badly for no reason. The question we have to wrestle with and answer is, “How do we respond in situations like this?” Should we lash out and attack back or endure, knowing that we are innocent?

My first inclination is to lash out and attack back. I don’t like being accused of something that is not true. I don’t like being blamed for something that is not my fault. This weekend though, I was challenged to put that natural inclination aside and to respond instead with endurance and a gracious heart. My pastor spoke on 1 Peter 2: 18-25. It’s one of those passages in the Bible people don’t like quoting or even reading too often because of its message.

In this short letter to a group of people experiencing extreme physical, financial, and emotional persecution we learn four ways to respond to unfair treatment and unwarranted personal attacks.

1. Our mindset should be one of perseverance and not revenge.
2. We must remember that our actions will be an example for others to follow and speak louder than our words.
3. The words we speak must not be harsh, derogatory, or inflammatory. If we choose to speak up, then our words should seek to bring about reconciliation.
4. We must remember the grace that has been to shown us in the past and struggle to show grace to others as well.

This is a tough teaching but one that we all can strive to apply in our lives when a customer yells at us for no reason, a boss mistreats us at work, a loved one accuses us of something that is not true, or a friend gossips about us behind our back.

Make it a great day!

Coach Dan

FOUR WAYS TO RESPOND TO UNFAIR TREATMENT is a post from: Coach Dan Foster

I first met Rob Morris through my coach, Barry Engelman, of Building Champions. Rob is an owner/operator for the successful quick service restaurant chain, Chick-fil-A, Inc. Rob has worked for Chick-fil-A, Inc. since he was a junior in high school. He has risen through the ranks of the organization and currently owns two franchises in West Palm Beach, Florida. Over the past seventeen years Rob has led his life and employees with purpose.

In my interview with Rob we discuss his coaching leadership style, the importance of clearly defined values for your organization, the challenges facing leaders today, and what he is doing to stay at the top of his game as a leader. If you cannot see the video in your RSS feed or email, please click the link below.

Leading with Purpose – Interview with Rob Morris

Rob was recently honored to be one of the featured owner/operators at the 2011 Chick-fil-A, Inc. Seminar. He was interviewed by Stephen Caldwell for the Seminar Resource Guide and that article is available by clicking here.

Make it a great day!

Coach Dan

LEADING WITH PURPOSE: ROB MORRIS OF CHICK-FIL-A, INC is a post from: Coach Dan Foster

When we were young we thought we could do anything and be anything. We possessed a childlike faith in our talents and abilities which made it easy for us to dream of being a super hero or the world’s next greatest athlete. Our self-confidence and optimism about making a difference and being someone special made it exciting to get up each day, explore the world, and engage people. Our dreams were something we not only could see and believe in but we expected them to become the reality of the world we lived in.

Somewhere along the way we stopped believing in ourselves and started believing in the words, “No. That’s not possible”. Because of this our dreams ceased to be visions worthy of a life’s pursuit and instead became something we wake up from and forget as we engage the reality of the world around us. Every once in a while we might find ourselves day-dreaming again of all we hoped to be and how we could impact the world, but then we remember our mortgage payment, school loans, and the cost of raising a family. We shake our head, and say maybe someday, but not right now.

More and more I am having conversations with people who are struggling to find purpose and meaning in their life and work. Some are burned out, some are broke, but the majority of people have lost site of their dream. When I ask the question, If you could be doing anything and money was not an object what would it be?, most of them say something completely different then what they are currently doing for a living.

They are sad, frustrated, and even angry because they somehow got lost along the way of pursuing their dream. Perhaps they started pursuing someone else’s dream or they just ran out of resources to pursue their own and moved on to something less risky and more financially secure.

Author John C. Maxwell says it best:

People who don’t possess compelling dreams are in danger of having their lives merely slip away. Their days can become mundane, and then they become like their days.

I’m sensing now is the time for all of us to once again reconnect with our dreams, our vision, and the deepest desires of our heart. If you feel like you’ve lost sight of your dream – your calling – your purpose I encourage you to take ownership and responsibility of it once again. Here are four things you can do right now to reconnect with your dream and be responsible for it becoming a reality.

1. Take some time away from work to write out your dreams onto paper. No filter, just write them down and what your envisioned future looks like living out your dream. Don’t worry about how it will play out – instead focus on what your dream looks like. The how will come later.
2. Share your dream with a few trusted advisors. Get their feedback and ask for them to hold you accountable to owning your dream and taking responsibility for it.
3. Invest in your dream. Start looking for books, workshops, certifications, and personal development tools that you can invest your time and resources into. These should all drive you towards your goals and dreams.
4. Pursue your dream with passion. Look for opportunities for you to live out even the smallest elements of your dream. Perhaps it is speaking to people, starting a small group, serving at a homeless shelter, or designing new products or services.

If your dream is truly your calling then there is a predestined point down the road when your preparation and the opportunity to live out your dream will intersect. Your dream will then become your reality. Don’t lose hope as this intersecting moment is not too far down the road – now that you have taken responsibility for your dreams.

Make it a great day!

Coach Dan

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR DREAM is a post from: Coach Dan Foster

One of my greatest struggles is to remain disciplined and focused on the priorities in my life and business. There are so many “things” calling out to me during the day that take me away from being fully engaged in what I need to be doing. The ability to stay focused and disciplined at work and in life, in my opinion, has never been more difficult.

I’ve been reading the book of Proverbs this week to gain more insight into how to be a more disciplined person. I thought I would share with you some of the insights I’ve gained from one passage in particular, Proverbs 5. From this passage, I identified seven proactive steps that I can take to be more disciplined both at work and home:

1. Have a friend, mentor or coach to hold you accountable to your priorities and goals.
2. Study ways to improve your strengths and develop systems to help you with your weaknesses.
3. Be faithful to ones you love and never take their love for granted.
4. Create daily action plans that support your goals, priorities, and key relationships.
5. Set boundaries on what you do, where you go, and what you take in with your five senses.
6. Seek out and listen for wisdom so that no one can exploit you or take advantage of you.
7. Reflect on your life and priorities regularly – keep your vision front and center.

What steps are you taking this year to lead a more disciplined life?

Make it a great day,

Coach Dan

7 WAYS TO AVOID AN UNDISCIPLINED LIFE is a post from: Coach Dan Foster